Ligand-induced activation of the Preceptor for platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) induces tyrosine phosphorylation of a number of downstream signaling proteins. In the present study, we used two-dimensional gel electrophoresis to characterize the spectrum of proteins phosphorylated in response to PDGF stimulation in porcine aortic endothelial cells expressing PDGF beta-receptors, Several previously known substrates for the PDGF beta-receptor were identified as well as a novel substrate of 72 kDa. The 72-kDa component could be co-immunoprecipitated in complex with the adaptor protein c-Crk, the nonreceptor tyrosine kinase c-Fyn and the signaling molecule Eps15, The results obtained suggests that the 72-kDa protein might play an important role in signaling via the PDGF beta-receptor, coupling non-receptor tyrosine kinases of the Src family with c-Crk and Eps15. (C) 1997 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.